Halle Berry has responded to Olivier Martinez’s allegations that she abused their 12-year-old son, Maceo. Her lawyer, Marina Beck, has characterized Martinez’s filing as “entirely meritless and deliberately misleading” and notes that Berry is “deeply saddened” by the situation.
Martinez, who married Berry in 2013 before the couple separated in 2015, filed for a domestic-violence restraining order on September 26 and is now asking for full custody of their son. In his filing, Martinez alleged that Berry physically attacked Maceo, including putting her hands around his neck and choking him. According to reports, Martinez is seeking full custody.
In response, Beck said there is extensive evidence that Martinez has violated previous court orders and interfered with therapeutic and educational interventions involving his and Berry’s son. The lawyer also characterized Martinez as having a history of “erratic, possessive and violent behavior.”
In a series of texts filed with the order, Martinez asked whether Berry was okay with him picking up their son early from visiting with his mom. Berry allegedly replied she was not ok, noting whether it’s ok that their son thinks it’s right for him to fight with his mom and for a lack of respect from the child, who only sees her as “money bags.” Berry also acknowledged a situation with her son that she feels “terrible about” and asked Martinez to encourage Maceo to reach out to her.
A judge granted Martinez a temporary restraining order, requiring Berry to stay at least 100 yards away from her ex. Her parenting time with Maceo has also been restricted pending an October 16 hearing. While those restrictions have been put in place, the temporary order does not mean the court has determined that Berry abused her son. Beck has said Berry will continue fighting for Maceo’s best interests.
The ongoing conflict between Berry and Martinez is not new. Their 2023 divorce settlement provided for joint legal custody of Maceo, with Berry paying $8,000 a month in child support, along with educational and extracurricular expenses, and a percentage if she makes over $2 million in income, according to People. By 2024, their disagreements over parenting had become serious enough that the former couple entered court-ordered co-parenting therapy. Berry later accused Martinez of failing to fully participate in treatment and educational support she believed their son needed.
The allegations seem a stark contradiction for Berry, who has spent decades publicly speaking about domestic violence and supporting survivors. She has repeatedly discussed growing up in a home affected by domestic violence, saying that her father physically abused her mother and sister and that witnessing the abuse left her traumatized.
Berry has also spent years advocating for survivors through her longtime relationship with the Jenesse Center, a Los Angeles organization focused on domestic-violence prevention and intervention. As a celebrity ambassador, her involvement has included volunteering with the organization, supporting transitional housing for survivors and publicly encouraging women experiencing abuse to seek help and leave unsafe situations. She launched and funded the “What A Little Love Can Do” Project, an initiative to fully remodel and design emergency and transitional housing apartments for battered women and children.
Berry and Martinez are expected to return to court on October 16, when the court will hear from both sides and decide whether to extend, modify or lift the temporary restraining order. The former couple has also been ordered to participate in confidential mediation concerning custody.